belt conveyer



Jan. 21, 1936. W, Jl MANN v 2,028,231 BELT bom/EYER original Filed Feb.' 2, 1951 s sheets-sheet 2 Y INVENTOR A A36 A36 997m 9 ATTORNEYS W. J. MANN BELT CONVEYER Jan. 21, 1936.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Feb. 2, 1931 INVENTOR MHH-.ZM

I r l WSM ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 21, 1936 AUNIT-,ED s raras PAT ENT '0 FF--I'CIE BELT CONVEYER Application-February 2, 1931, Serial No. 512,914

Renewed June 21,` 1932 38A Claims.

`Important objects of` the present invention are, to provide animproved `belt conveyer of the; drag type forvconveying message'sheets such astelek'grams and the-like; toprovidesuch aconveyer designedfor more'rapid and safe conveyance of the sheets; to provide such a oonveyerwithmeans for obtaining `good frictonalholding Vengagement ofthe sheets with the belts, so that the sheets will be Yconveyed more positively and rapidly; to pre- -ventjthe sheets from wrapping aroundthe belts with v4'thecdnsequent possibilities vof -tearingfand failure todetaoh at the delivery point; to provide a, drag belt conveyer having cooperating twin belts and means for holding `the conveyed sheets flexedl between the belts for good holdingl engagement with them; to provide for the feeding of sheets to a drag belt conveyer at intermediate pointsalong; a belt reach; and to provide a drag belt conveyer designed to operate satisfactorily in inverted position with the conveyer faces of the -beits directed upward so that the sheets may be -feddownward upon intermediate points .of the belt reaches. Other objects of the -inventionwill appear hereinafter. l

Inthe drawings, Fig. 1 is a side rviewfpartly in section, of a conveyer system embodying rnyinvention;

lFig. 2 an enlarged detail line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 `an enlarged horizontal section taken on the Vline 3--3 of Fig.` 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 anenlarged vertical section taken on the line--of Fig. l; v

Fig. `5 an enlarged horizontal sectiontaken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 a section taken on the line Vita-Sei. Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 a detail sectional View ef a modified form of sheet-guiding track plate;

Fig. 8 a detail sectional view of another modified form` of sheet-guiding trarleplate;

Fig. 9 a side view partly in section of another formof conveyorsystem embodying my invention;

Fig. l an enlarged detail section taken on the section taken ,on the line lli-.i9 of Fig. 9;

Fig. lladetail section taken through one of the feed hoppers of the system;

` Fig, 12 a section taken on theline l2- l2 of F'igfll; and

Fig. 13 an enlarged detail section taken on the line i3-3 of Fig. 9.

The belt conveyer systemY shown in Fig. 1 includes a skeleton` frame structure supporting the pulleys and belts and comprising a pair of :spaced columnszl and-i2 anda horizontal iframe connesting them. Column l is formed of four verticalrods 4 having their ends detachably secured in sockets formed upon plates f and gsecured .t0 the floor and ceiling respectively. Column 2 is similarly formed of four rods .1 having their `5 upper ends detachably secured in socketsformed upon-a plate 8 secured to theoeiling. The lower ends of rods i are detachably secured toasimi-lar plate s lmounted upon the top of a frame lll. This frame denes an elevated receptacle l i for sheets A discharged from the conyeyer,and an enclosure i'beneath said receptacle forfthe conveyor driving `motor i3. Said receptaclev and enclosure preferably have perforated or grille-like, walls. The horizontal frame 3 connecting the columns 15 isdisposed beneath the 'ceiling and comprises four Vrods I4 whose ends are detachably fastened in sockets formed upon-coupling vmembers` l5. Said' members are formed with inwardly opening hooks which rengage two of the column rods yand ,.20 are detachably securedto them by set screws I6. Intermediatehanger rods Il `are-detachaloly secured to the ceiling andbear hooks I8 vwhich engage the rods lli and have `set screwsengaging `the latter.

Attached-to column I at intermediate points thereof are two pairs of transverse stiiening and shaft-supporting bars I9 and 29. Each bar has inwardly opening hooks 23 at its ends Vwhich engage the column `rods and have set screws 2l releasably fastening them in place. Each bar Ahas a shaft bearing socket 22. Three pairs Ofsimilar bars 23,- 24 and; 25 are mounted upon column 2 and similarly secured. The bearingsof bars I9 supporta shaft 19T `upon which two beltY pulleys 35 26 are rotatably mounted in slightly spaced.rela tion. Bars support,V in their bearings, a shaft 21- upon which, twopulleys 28 are rotatably mounted. A- shaft 29 is supported in the bearings of bars 23 and'has a pairof belt pulleys 3D fixed upon-it. Anothershaft 43l is supported in the bearings ofnbars 25, and rotatablybears two spaced pulleys 32. Still another shaft 3 3 is supported by thebars and hasa pairgofpulleys 34 rotatably mounted upon it. Allof these `shafts are held to `thebars by set Vscrews SQandthe pulleys are held spaced apart by collars 1fixed to the shafts.v

The frame structure also supports a number of belt pulleys 35, 36, 31 landrotatably'mounted `50 in pairs upon shafts, andeach shaft is supported by a pair of bearing brackets'. Each of; Asaid brackets hasahook-like end which engages one of theframerods and is detachably clampedto it by a, set screw. All ,of these pulleysiareheld Valong the conveyer line. afpairbf companion endless drag'belts -88 which sdelby side, guide thedischarged sheetsinto an vopenside o'fthe receptacle `:marginal exposure of the sheets, and thereby preventthe sheets from wrapping around the belts, failing lto detach at the discharge 4point and `tearing at' the pulleys, all ofA which Afrequently occurs insingle belt systems.v The important feature of the central plate ridge holds the dragged-sheets flexed in a manner toobtain `a good dragging hold to the belts and positively "prevent lateral displacement of the sheets beneath the belts. Thereby the sheets may be conveyedat a greatly increased speed and with entire safety.

Fig. 'Z'shows a modified form of `my sheetretaining track plate. In this plate, designated 82, the fside ridgesare omitted and-the longitudinal 'edges aremerely curled beneathlthe plate as at 8-3 "to `stiffen it. Otherwise the i plate is the same as that previously described, having the central ridge 84 and thetwin belt tracks.

'belt'tracks where it increases the frictional resistance to the travel of the belts and the conveyed sheets.` |I'he trackplateshown in Fig. 7 isfree of obstructions along its outer edges so that a cloth can-be readilyinserted `beneath the belts to wipe ofthe ftracks.

Another form of the sheet-retaining track plate `is'shown in Fig. 8. Here, the plate, designated 85 is' formed with two medially disposed, parallel, longitudinal ridges 88 instead of a single central The belt tracks 81' are disposed outward across the spacebetween the ridges. 'Ihis track will accommodate three belts if desired and the belts will hold `the sheet in contact with the crestsfofV the ridges 86 and iiexed thereover along `the parallel medial lines.

Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive show` another form of conveyer system embodying my invention. Here anuinvertedform of drag conveyer is employed in apertionA of thesystem to provide for the feeding of sheets at a number of intermediate points In the system there is are -trained in succession over a pair of pulleys 89;- a pair of pulleys 90 at the same level as pulleys 89,apair of pulleys 9| at a lowen level and a still lower -pair of pulleys 92, and back over pairs of the horizontalbelt reaches form a feed-lineand 'have their conveyer faces directed upward. At

their under faces said belt reaches are supported horizontal by flat track rails |9| over which they are dragged. Transverse bars I02-support said rails" and arepin turnsupported by parallel angle lirons 103.

The showing of the system is diagrammatic and the supporting means for the angle irons `and for a number of the pulleys of 'the system have been omitted.

lOverlying the upwardly C directed conveyer @faces-` offfthe-horizontal belt :reaches -is `a llongi- This 4for-ml of the trackplate aords lateral clearance -point near the pulleys 92.

tudinal series of sheet retaining and guiding Zpla'te sections |04 similar in cross section to vthe plate shownfin Fig. 7 but inverted. These platesections are supported slightly spaced above the belt faces byhopper structures |95^locatedat spaced points along the feed line. Each of vsaid structures comprises a casting forming a. yoke |98 and an upwardly aring hopper, opening downward throughthe yoke. The yoke straddles the angle irons |83 and is adjustably securedto them by bolts |91 `which are Vpassed through vertical slots |08 in the legs of the yoke. The ends of the plate sections |04 are riveted or otherwise secured to the under sides of the yokes Yof the different Ahoppers, so that by vertically adjusting the yokethe plate sections may be accurately positioned in properspaced relation to the belt faces. Since the plate sections are inverted, their central ridges ||l|a project downward between the belts. Sheets fed into the hoppers drop upon the belts, are pulled thereby beneath the plates and are dragged along the latter. An inclined ridge |99 `at the bottom of each hopper merges the hopper exit with the ridge |04a 'and guides the inserted sheets over the latter. ridge |9151a iiexes or crimps the sheets into holding engagement with the belts and holds them against lateral displacement.

The endrnost plate section |94 is elongated and extends over the pulleys 99 and-downward as-at |94b along the descending belt reaches to a The descending portion of said plate is in direct contact with the belts, as shown in Fig. 13, and cooperates therewith as described in the preceding system. It .f

may be supported in any suitable manner and Vmay also be in sections instead of continuous. At

its lower end it is bent downward to direct the discharged sheets upon a pick-up belt H0. Stripper prongs disposed at an angle tothe belts serve to positively strip the sheets from the belts at the discharge point.

What I claim is:

1. In a drag belt conveyer system, a pair of parallel belt tracks disposed side by side; a pair of transversely spaced, companion drag belts trained to slide along said tracks and drag an interposed sheet along both tracks with the-medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and means between the belts and extending along them to engage the medial portion of the sheet land hold it exed to prevent lateral displacement of the sheet and maintain it in frictional holding engagement with the belts for positive conveyance along the tracks.

2. In a belt system for conveying sheetsfa pair of transversely spaced, companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side; track means extending along said belts and opposed to their conveying faces to hold an interposed sheet to said faces of both belts with the medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and'means between the belts and extending therealong to engage the medial portion of the sheet and hold it flexed to prevent lateral displacement of the sheet and maintain it in frictional holding engagement with the belts.

3. In a drag beltconveyer system, a pair of parallel belt tracks disposed side by side; a pair of transversely spaced, companion drag belts trained to slide along said tracks and drag an interposed sheet along both tracks with the medial -portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts;

and a ridge between the belts` and extending longitudinally thereof to 4engage the .medial portion Theh.

of the sheet Vand hold it flexed as the sheet is dragged. v

4. In a belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of transversely spaced, companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along said belts and opposed to their. conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet to said faces of both belts with rthe medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and a ridge between the belts and extending longitudinally thereof to engage the medial portion of the sheet and hold it exed as the sheet is conveyed.

5. In a belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of transversely spaced, companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side; sheet guiding and retaining means extending ,along said belts and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet to said faces of both belts with the medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between'the belts; and a ridge between the belts and extending longitudinally thereof to engage the medial portion of the sheet and hold it flexed as the sheet is conveyed, the crest of said ridge being inclined at one end for flexing the sheet and guiding it into conveying position.

6. In a drag belt conveyer system, a pair of parallel belt tracks disposed side by side; a pair of transversely spaced, companion drag belts trained to slide along said tracks and drag an interposed sheet along the tracks with the medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; means between the belts and extending therealong to engage the medial portion of the sheet and hold it flexed for holding engagement ywith the belts and positive conveyance along the tracks; and means for adjusting the tracks toward and from the belts.

7. In a belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of transversely spaced, companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side; a track plate extending along said belts and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet to both of said faces with the medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and a ridge carried by the track plate between the belts and extending therealong to hold the sheet flexed for holding engagement with the belts.

8. In a belt y conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of transversely spaced, companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side; track means extending along said belts and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet to said faces of both belts, with the medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; means between the belts and extending therealong to engage the medial portion of the sheet and hold it ilexed for holding engagement with the belts and positive conveyance along the track means; and means for adjusting the track means toward and from the belts.

9. In a drag belt conveyer system, a pair of parallel, slightly flexible belt tracks disposed side by side; a pair of transversely spaced, companion ldrag belts trained to travel along said tracks and drag an interposed sheet along both tracks with the medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; a ridge between the belts and extending therealong to outwardly flex the sheet for holding engagement with the belts; and adjustable means for bowing the flexible tracks for close engagement with the belts.

10. In a belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side` in.v transversely spaced rela- Vhold an interposed sheet to both of said faces,

the track plate being bent outward along a longitudinal medial line to form a ridge projecting between the belts to hold the sheet flexed as it is conveyed.v

11. Ina. belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of companion conveyer belts trained to run side by side in transversely spaced relation; a track plate extending along said belts and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet to both of said faces, the track plate having a pair of parallel ridges extending therealong between the belts to hold the sheet flexed outward for holding engagement with the belts.

12. In a drag belt conveyer system, a sheet metal plate bent along parallel marginal and medial lines to define a pair of parallel channels and a longitudinal ridge between said channels; and a pair of companion drag belts trained to run within said channels and drag a sheet therealong, with the sheet interposed between both belts and channels and its medial portion extending across said ridge, the ridge serving to hold the sheet CII flexed outward for holding engagement with the belts.

V13. In a drag belt conveyer system, a sheet metal plate bent along parallel marginal and medial lines to dene a pair of parallel channels and a longitudinal ridge between said channels;`

and a pair of companion drag belts trained to run within said channels and drag a sheet therealong, with the sheet interposed between both belts and channels and its medial portion extending across said ridge, the ridge serving to hold the sheet flexed outward for holding engagement with the belts, and the crest of the ridge and the outer sides of the channels being inclined at one end for flexing the sheet and guiding it into conveying position.

14.Y A belt conveyer line for conveying sheets comprising a pair of transversely spaced companion belt reaches trained to run side by side with their conveyer faces directed upward; sheet guiding and retaining means overlying and extending along said belt reaches and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet disposedbetween both belts and the guiding and retaining means; supportingmeans engaging the under faces of said belt reaches and supporting them in xed relation to the sheet retaining means; and a ridge projecting downward below said sheet-retaining means and between the belts and extending therealong to flex the sheet, the sheet-retaining means and ridge having a gap at an intermediate point in the line forthe insertion of sheets into conveying positionA between the retaining means and the belts.

15. A belt conveyer line for conveying sheets comprising a pair of transversely spaced companion belt reaches trained to run side by side with their conveyer faces directed upward; sheet guiding and retaining means overlying and extending along said belt reaches and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet disposed between both belts and the guiding and retaining means; supporting means engaging the under faces of said belt reaches and supporting them in Ilxed relation to the sheet retaining I means; and a ridge projecting downward below said sheet-retaining means and between the belts and extending therealong to flex the sheet, the sheet-retaining means and ridge having a gap at an intermediate point in the line forthe insertion of sheets into conveying position between the retaining means and the belts, and the ridge having a tapered portion leading from said gap tol the peak of the ridge for flexing the sheets and guiding them into conveying position.

` 1'6. A belt conveyer line for conveying sheets 'comprising a pair of transversely spaced' companion belt reaches trained to run side bylside with their conveyer faces. directed upward; sheet guiding and retaining means overlying and extending along said belt reaches and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold aninterposedsheet disposed'between both belts and the.l guiding and retaining means; supporting means engagingthe under faces of said belt reaches and'supporting them in fixed relation to: said sheet retaining means; and a ridge projecting downward below the sheet-retaining'means and between the belts and extendingtherealong to hold the sheet flexed; 17. A belt conveyer line for conveying sheets comprising a pairof `transversely spaced companion'belt `reaches trained to run side by'side with their conveyer faces directed upward;isheet guiding and retaining meansk overlying' and extending along' saidbelt reaches and opposed to theirconveyer faces toholdA an interposed sheet disposedbetween both belts and the 'guiding and retaining means; supporting meansengaging thei under facesofisaid belt reaches and supporting' them in'xed; relation to theisheet retainingzmeans; a ridge projectingdownward below said 'sheet-retaining means and between the beltsand extending therealong to hold the sheet flexed, the sheet-retaining means having a gap at an-intermediate point Vin the line for the insertion of sheets into conveyingposition' between the retaining means'andl the belts; and means for relatively adjusting 'the sheet-retaining means and said belt-"supporting meansltoward and from each other to' vary the space between the conveying facesof the belt reaches `and the sheet-'retaining means. i

18.A beltconveyer line for conveying sheets comprising a pair oftr'ansversely spaced conveyer beltf reaches trained to runfside by side with their conveyerv vfaces directed upward; sheet guiding and retaining means overlying and extending along` said belt reaches and opposed to their conveyer faces tof hold an interposed sheet disposed between both belts andthe guiding and retaining means; supporting tracks engaginggthe under faces'of' the said belt reachesv and" supporting' them for dragging therealong in xed relation to the: sheet retaining" means; and a ridge projecting downward below said sheet retaining means and` between' the belts and ex,

tendingthere'alongI to hold thejsheet'flexed; the sheet-retaining means and ridge having a' gap at :an'intermedia'teipoint in` the line' for the insertion of' sheets into conveying position between the retaining means and thebelts.

19. In a belt" conveyer system, a pair of' companionfconveyer'belts trained to form a pair of transversely spaced conveyer belt reaches trained tofrunside by 'side with their conveyer faces directed upward,and a pair of transversely spaced, side by side conveyer belt reaches continuing fromsaid rst reaches and trained to extend therefrom at an angle and" 'lead'i to another" elevation; sheet 4guiding and retaining means overlying and extending along the conveyerfaces of botlfrpairs` of beltreaches tohold an interposed. sheet for conveyance by'bothbelts, said'rretaining meanshavin'g a feed gap `atan intermediat'e point in the length of 'therst reaches for the insertion of sheets into conveying position between the retaining means and the belts; and a ridge extending along the sheet-retaining means and projecting inward between thebelt reaches forholding the conveyed sheets flexed.

` 20. In a drag belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of spaced cod-axial belt pulleys; a pair of transversely spaced drag belt tracks extending from a point adjacent the peripheries of said pulleys; a pair of drag belts trained over the pulleys and along said tracks with their conveyer faces opposed to the pulleys and tracks, for conveying a sheet around the pulley and' dragging it along the' tracks; a ridge between `the tracks extending therealong, projecting outward between 'the belts for exing the' vsheet and extending at one endl longitudinally beyond the tracks'and inclning inward between the pulleys to flex the sheet and guide it from the pulleys to the tracks.

21. In 4a drag belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a pair of transversely spaced, companion conveyer belts trainedto run side by side;

sheet guiding and retaining means `extending along said belts and opposed to their conveyer faces to hold an interposedsheet to said faces of both belts with a medial portion of the `sheet bridging the space between the belts; and means to flex saidnredial portion of the sheet out of the plane ofthe belts.

22, In a drag'belt'conveyer system for conveyingv sheets, a pair of transversely spaced, com panion conveyer belts trained to run side by side; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along said belts and opposed to the conveyer faces thereof to hold an interposed sheetto said i faces of both belts with a medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the belts; and a sheet-iiexing projection disposed between the belts to flex said medial portion ofthe sheet out of the plane of the belts.

23. A belt conveyer line for conveying sheets comprising a pair of transversely spaced companion belt reaches', trained to run side by side with their conveyer faces directed upward; sheet guiding and retaining means overlying and extending along said belt reaohes and opposedto their conveyer faces to hold an interposed sheet disposed between both belts and the guiding and retaining means with a medial portion of the sheet bridging the space between the beltreaches; supporting `means engaging the under faces of said belt reaches and supporting them in cooperative relation to said sheet retaining means; and means to ex said medial portion of the sheet out of the plane of the belt' reaches.

24. In a drag belt conveyer line for conveying sheets, a conveyer belt; a frame structurefor supporting the line including longitudinal rods extending along theline; a transverse bar detachably xed to said frame rods and removable from said rods transversely thereof; sheet guiding and retaining means supported by said transverse bar and forming a track extending along said belt to hold'sheets thereto for conveyance;l and means carried by said transverse bar to adjust said sheet retaining means into close uniform cooperative contact with the belt.

v25. In a drag belt conveyer line for conveying sheets, a pair of transversely spaced lcompanion conveyer belts trained to run side by side; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along said belts to hold a sheet to both belts for conveyance thereby with a medial portion of the sheet b ridging the space between the belts; means extending along the belts to hold said medial'portion of the sheetiiexe'd out of the plane of the belts; and means to drive both belts inthe same direction and at the same speed.

26. In a'drag belt conveyer line for conveying sheets, a pair of transversely spaced, companion conveyer belts 'trained to run side by side; stationary sheet guiding and retaining means forming .a track extending along said belts to hold an interposed sheet to both belts Vfor conveyance thereby; and means to drive both belts in the same-direction and at the same speed.

27. In a belt conveyer system having a skeleton supporting frame structure including a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinal rods arranged to deiine the frame, transverse frame-stiiening and shaft-supporting bars at opposite sides of said frame and having spaced hook-like portions openingV inwardly of the frame and hooked around said frame rods, set screws carried by said transverse bars to releasably lock said hook-like portions to the frame rods, said transverse bars having shaft-receiving sockets, a pulley shaft extending transversely of the frame rods and supported in'said sockets at opposite sides of the frame, and means releasably locking said shaft in the sockets to cooperate with the transverse bars to stilen the frame, the transverse bars being outwardly removable from the frame transversely of the longitudinal rods upon release of said set screws and said shaft-locking means.

28. In a belt conveyer system having a skeleton supporting frame structure including a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinal rods arranged to define the frame, transverse framestiffening and shaft-supporting bars at opposite sides of said frame and having spaced hook-like portions hooked around said frame rods, means to releasably lock said hook-'like portions to the frame rods,V said transverse bars having shaftreceiving sockets, and a pulley shaft extending transversely of the frame rods and supported in said sockets rat opposite sides of the frame. Y 29. In a belt conveyer system having a skeleton supporting frame-structure including a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinal rods, a transverse frame-stiffening and shaft-supporting bar extending between said rods and having spaced hook-like portions opening transversely of the bar and hooked around said frame rods, set screws carried by said bar to releasably lock said hooklike portions to the frame rods, said transverse bar having a shaft-receiving socket, a pulley shaft supported insaid socket, and means to releasably lock said shaft in the socket.

30. In a belt conveyer system having a skeleton supporting frame structure including a plurality of transversely spaced longitudinal rods, a transverse frame-stifening and shaft-supporting bar having spaced hook-like portions opening transversely of the bar and hooked around said frame rods, means carried by said bar to releasably lock said hook-like portions to the frame rods, said transverse bar having a shaft-receiving socket, and a pulley shaft'supported in said socket. i131. In a'drag belt conveyer system for conveying sheets, a conveyer belt, stationary sheet guiding and retaining means in the form of a flexible Y track extending along said belt to hold sheets thereto for drag conveyance along the track, means to rigidly support said track at longitudinally spaced points, and adjustable means to bow the flexible track between said points to position and hold the track in cooperative engagement with the belt.

' 32. Adrag belt sheet conveyer linecompri'sing drag belt conveyer means having a pair of longitudinal, transversely spaced, companion sheetengaging Vconveyer portions extending along the line side by side; sheet guiding and retaining..

means extending along the line to hold a sheet to both of said transversely spaced belt conveyer portions for conveyance thereby with an intermediate portion of the sheet bridging the space between said belt conveyer portions; and a ridge extending along, the line and projecting between said belt conveyer portions to hold said medial portion of the sheet flexed between said belt conveyer portions.

33. A drag belt sheet conveyer line comprising drag belt conveyer means having a pair of longitudinal, transversely spaced, companion sheetengaging conveyer portions extending along the line side by side; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along the line to hold a sheet to both of said transversely spaced belt conveyer portions for conveyance with an intermediate portion of the sheet bridging the space between said 'belt conveyer portions; and sheet-ilexing means extending along the line and projecting between said belt conveyer portions to hold said medial portion of the sheet flexed between said belt conveyer portions.

34. A sheet conveyer line comprising a pair of companion sheet-engaging conveyer members spaced apart transversely of the line; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along the line to hold a sheet to both of said transversely spaced conveyer members for conveyance with an intermediate portion of the sheet bridging the space between said conveyer members; and sheet-flexing means projecting between said conveyer members to ex said medial portion of the sheet between said members.

35. A drag belt sheet conveyer line comprising drag belt conveyer means having a pair of longitudinal, transversely spaced, companion sheetengaging conveyer portions extending along the line side by side; sheet guiding and retaining means extending along the line to hold a sheet to both of said transversely spaced belt conveyer portions for conveyance with an intermediate portion of the sheet bridging the space between said belt conveyer portions; and sheet-ilexing means extending along the line and projecting between said belt conveyer portions to hold said medial portion of the sheet flexed between said belt conveyer portions, the sheet guiding and retaining means forming tracks for the sheet along opposite sides of said sheet flexing means and having lateral clearance along the outer longitudinal sides of the tracks for lateral entry to clean the tracks.

36. A dragbelt sheet conveyer line comprising drag belt conveyer means extending along the line, and sheet guiding and retaining means forming a track extending along the line to hold an interposed sheet to said belt means for conveyance and having lateral clearance along a longitudinal edge of the track for lateral entry to clean the track; and means spaced transversely from said longitudinal edge to iiex the sheet and hold it against displacement across the track as it is conveyed.

3'7.V A sheet conveyer line comprising cooperating belt conveyer means and track means both extending along the line and disposed in opposed relation for conveyance of an interposed sheet along the track means by the belt means, and a sheet-hexing ridge borne by one of said means,

extending along the line and located at an intermediate position with respect to the Width of the belt means and the track means to hold the medial portion of the sheet flexed as the sheet is conveyed, for the purpose set forth, the other of said cooperating means having medial clearance therealong to receive said ridge.

38. A sheet conveyer line comprising cooperating belt conveyer means and track means both extending along the line and in opposed relation for conveyance of an interposed sheet along the track means by the belt conveyer means, and sheetflexing means in an intermediate position with respect to the Width of said cooperating belt conveyer means and said track means to hold the medial portion of the sheet flexed as it is conveyed along the line,l for the purpose set forth.

WALTER J. MANN.

Jan. 21, 1936; R L. M|LLER l 2,028,232

I SUBMULTIPLE FREQUENCY GENERATOR Filed July 5, 1934 /NVENTo/e R./ .M/LLER.

@iT/MW 4 TTORNEV 

